In 2009, Attorney Emily Schaeffer – whose work includes legal aid to the human rights organization Yesh Din – made it into the “25 Intelligent Optimists of the Year” list of the Dutch magazine Ode.

Thirty-five-year-old Schaeffer is a human rights lawyer and an activist, who is a champion of the oppressed and under-privileged, fighting for various causes inside and outside the courtroom: After representing the residents of the Palestinian village of Bil’in in a petition against the route of the security barrier built by Israel on the village lands, she began demonstrating alongside her clients in their weekly protests, which received significant international media attention. Schaeffer also represents African asylum seekers, with whom she volunteers in her spare time. What’s more, she is a vegan who champions animal rights.

Playlist:

R.E.M. – You Are The Everything
James – Sometimes
Led Zeppelin – Going To California
Sinead O’Connor – Black Boys On Mopeds
PJ Harvey – A Place Called Home
Noa May – The War Is Over

*Noa May is an Israeli singer-songwriter, and also a human rights lawyer.

Photo by Yossi Gurvitz.